Collapsible container



Aug. 0, 1965 E. A. cooNs 3,199,762

COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Filed July 29, 1963 IN VEN TOR. EVERETT A. coo/vsA TTORNE V United States Patent 3,199,762 COLLAPSIBLE CGNTAlNER EverettA. Coons, West Monroe, La., assignor to Glin Mathieson ChemicalCorporation, a corporation of Virginia Filed July 29, 1963, Ser. No.298,316 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-27) The present invention relates tocontainers and relates in particular to a collapsible containerfabricated from a single sheet of corrugated medium.

It is a particular feature of the present invention to provide a novelblank for a collapsible container.

It is a further feature of the invention to provide a 30- dozen egg casewhich is collapsible into a flat condition for easy stacking.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a containerhaving in the erect condition top, bottom, side and end walls includingan integrally connected transverse partition.

A single sheet blank of corrugated medium from which said collapsiblecontainer may be fabricated may comprise a first one-half side panel, afirst end panel, a first full side panel, a second end panel, a secondone-half side panel, and a transverse partition panel where all saidpanels are hinged integrally in series and positioned in the sequencenamed, said series of hinged panels defined a body strip, each panel ofsaid body strip having a pair of opposed, substantially identical flapelements, one fiap element of each pair being scored diagonall and bothend panels being scored vertically to render said erected blankcollapsible.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent from an examination of the succeeding specification when readin conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a single sheet blank from which the containerof the present invention is fabricated,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container in the erected condition,

FIG. 3 shows the container partially collapsed, and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of FIG. 2 as viewed from a horizontal planeembracing the line 44.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral it refersgenerally to the single sheet blank, preferably cut from conventionalcorrugated medium.

The blank comprises a body strip consisting of onehalf side panel 11,first end panel 12, full side panel l3, second end panel 14, secondone-half side panel 16 and transverse partition panel 17, all hingedlyand integrally connected in series in the sequence named by score lines18, 19, 21, 22 and 23.

The panels 11 through 16 are each formed with opposed pairs of flapelements 24, 26, 27, 23, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35.

As will be more apparent hereinafter, flap elements 24, 27, 29, 32 and34 ultimately develop a top wall for the erected egg case while flapelements Z, 28, 31, 33 and 36 create a bottom wall in the erectedcarton. A terminal margin of one-half side panel 11 is crushed orcompressed to compact the corrugated medium as indicated by the hatchingat the reference numeral 37. Correspondingly, a glue flap integrallyhinged to the transverse partition panel 17 at score line 38 is alsocompressed as evidenced by the hatching at reference numeral 39.

The compressed margins 37 and 39 also define glue areas.

The reference numerals 4i and 4-1 denote hand holes by means of whichthe carton may be carried about.

The end panels 12 and 1dincluding their adjacent flap elements arescored vertically to develop fold lines indicated by the referencenumerals 42 and 43. Transverse partition panel is similarly scored asindicated by the reference numeral 44.

The closure flaps 26, 28, 31, 33 and 36 which develop the bottom wall ofthe container when in the erected condition are formed with a pluralityof diagonal scores developing fold lines identified by the referencenumerals 46, &7, 4-8, 4-9, 51, 52, 53 and 54-.

PEG. 2 shows tthe container blank of FIG. 1 in the erect condition.One-half side panel 11 is shown overlapping one-half side panel 16 withthe compressed terminal margin 37 of the panel 11 overlaying and gluedto panel 16 and its adjacent flaps 34 and 3&5 (see FIG. 3).

Transverse partition panel 17 projects from score line 44 and spans thewidth of the container with crushed margin 39 being glued to full sidepanel 13.

A reference to FIG. 4 reveals that bottom forming flaps 28 and 33 areturned inwardly first and are overlayed by full side wall flap 31 andone-half side wall flaps 26 and 36 to complete the bottom closure.

The top closure is accomplished in conventional fashion wherein flaps 27and 32 are infolded followed by full flap 29 and half flaps 2 and 34.

In FIG. 3 there is a representation of the manner of collapsing the eggcase.

The bottom central portion of the carton is pushed outwardly pivotingabout the line referenced 45. End walls 12 and 14 are pushed inwardlyhinging about vertical score lines 42 and 43 respectively.

Depressing vertical score lines 42 and 43 inwardly carries along thatportion of the bottom wall which embraces the extension of score lines42 and 43 that project into the top and bottom flaps 2723 and 3233hinged integrally with end walls 12 and 14 respectively. Thereafter sidepressure on side panel 13 and half side wall panels 11 and 15 fullycollapses the container to a flat condition. Obviously central partition17 folds about score line 44.

It is anticipated that a Wide variety of modifications of the presentinvention may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

What is claimed is:

A single sheet blank for a collapsible container fabricated fromcorrugated meduirn, said blank having in the erected condition top,bottom, side and end walls comprising a first one-half side panel, afirst end panel, a full side panel, a second end panel, a secondone-half side panel, a transverse partition panel and a partition flaphingedly connected in series and disposed in the sequence named, saidseries of hinged panels defining a body strip, each panel of said bodystrip having hinged thereto a pair of substantially identical,substantially rectangular, flap elements defining a first top one-halfflap,

a first bottom one-half flap, a first top end flap, a first bottom endflap, a top full side fiap, a bottom full side flap, a second top endflap, a second bottom end flap, a second top one-half side flap, 8.second bottom one-half side flap, all said bottom flaps being scoreddiagonally, said end panels and said partition panel being scoredvertically, and each of said first and second bottom end flaps having ascore line extending from the score line of their associated end panelsto their edge to render said erected blank collapsible, a marginalportion of one side panel and said partition flap being crushed tofacilitate gluing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Cleveland.

Mensing et a1. 2294l Zilles.

Mairs et a1. 22927 Nute 229-41 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner.

